Fertility period indicator



L. L. SAFRANEK ETAL 2,769,593

Nov. 6, 1956 FERTILITY PERIOD INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1955 INVENTOR.

LOU/S L. SAFRANEK KEN/V5 TH 4. OHL/NGER d%% Nov. 6, 1956 L. L. SAFRANEK ET AL FERTILIT PERIOD INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July ll-, 1955 United States Patent ()fiice 2,769,593 FERTILITY PERIOD INDICATOR Louis L. Safranek and Kenneth A. Ohlinger, Omaha, Nebr.

Application July 11, 1955, Serial No. 521,125 3 Claims. (Cl. 235-88) This invention relates to a new and improved time in terval indicating calendar for indicating the days of fertility of a female, with less danger or error than in indicators of the prior art.

Indicators for determining the fertility period have heretofore been used, however, it is an object of this invention to provide an indicator which allows for the 28, 30 and 31 day months, without the danger of error present in the extra step of computation heretofore necessary, this being accomplished by having all of the dates of the year on one bottom disc.

The patent to Heck 2,638,272, issued May 12, 1953, is a workable indicator except for the danger of error in having the menstrual cycle figures opposite the figures of the days of the month.

Still a further object is to provide a fertility indicator 3 described which has on one movable member a first date of flow indicia, preferably an arrow, opposite the day numbers of first date of menstrual flow and for indicating the proper day number, rather than using cycle number figures on a movable disc opposite date figures on another movable disc with the greater danger of confusion and error.

The great danger in the use of a fertility period indicator lies .in the fact that it may become improperly used, then, as it is being depended upon, pregnancy may happen at a time when it is least desired. I A further object of the invention is to provide an indicator as described, in which only one cycle-length number is visible at one setting of an upper cycle-indicating disc. In the above mentioned patent to Heck, many day numbers of the cycle are visible at once. The resultant confusion can lead to error and pregnancy at an undesired time.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a more dependable indicator of fertility periods, making use of a window and indicator arrows on the same rotary member to avoid the necessity of numbers on one movable disc opposite numbers on another movable disc as has heretofore caused confusion and danger of error of pregnancy.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the fertility period indicator of this invention, certain of the numbers of the days in the menstrual cycle, which are hidden by an upper disc, being shown in dotted lines;

7 2,769,593 Patented Nov. 6, 1956 Figure 2 is a top plan view of the lower disc;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the center disc.

The fertility period indicator of this invention is generally indicated at 10 in Figure 1 and has a lower member or disc 12, having the day numbers 14 of the days of a year printed thereon and disposed in rows 16 arranged concentrically with respect to and extending various distances outwardly from, a pivot point 18 disposed at the area-center of the lower member 12.

It will be seen that each of the rows 16 contains the numbers 14 of the days of a month and that certain of the rows 16 terminate in the numeral 31, for a 31 day month, as indicated at 20, while others terminate in the numeral 28, as indicated at 22, and still others terminate in the numeral 30, as best seen at 2.4.

A center disc or member 30 is provided and is best seen in Figure l. The center portion of the center member 30 is best seen in Figure 3.

The center member 30 has a pivot point 32 above the pivot point 18 of the lower member 12, and the center member 31) has month markings thereon arranged in a radially extending column 36, the month markings 38 being arranged in rows concentric with and extending various distances outwardly from the pivot point 32 and disposed opposite and in registry with the rows 16.

The rows of month markings 38 are arranged adjacent the side edge of a window opening 44 cut out of the center disc, or member 30. The window 44 is positioned above and of a substantial size and shape to expose the rows 16 of the day numbers 14 of a year printed on'the lower member or disc 12, as best seen in Figure 1.

On the opposite side of the window 44 a second'column of month markings is indicated at 54 and has month numbers 56 thereon arranged in concentric rows opposite the rows 16.

The rows 16 and the rows 38 are both preferably separated from one another by clear lines so as to hold the danger of confusion and error to a minimum.

The member 30 has a first and larger window 44 therethrough which is disposed above and for exposing certain ones of the day numbers in the columns 14 on the lower member 12. The center member 30 also has a second window 5'!) therethrough and of a shape for exposing preferably only one of the columns 16, the second window 50 being adjacent to the markings 56 in the column 54 of the month markings.

The window 50 is in a position for indicating the first date of the period in which the days of actual fertility lie, the period of actual fertility being only about 48 hours. The center member has a third window 60 therethrough of a shape for exposing another one of the columns 14 different from that exposed by the second window 50.

The center member 30 is provided with month markings 64 thereon adjacent the third window 60 and along side the third window 60, the month markings 64 being respectively arranged in positions opposite corresponding ones of the concentric rows 16 and being arranged in a column 68 extending radially outward from the pivot point 32.

The third window 60 is in a position for indicating the last date of the larger period in which the period of actual fertility is disposed.

The center member 30 has a circular row of cycle numbers arranged concentrically about the pivot point 32 and for indicating the cycle days of the menstrual cycle.

The indicator further has atop disc or top best seen in Figure 1, which is shape.

The top member is of a smaller size than the cenmember on it, preferably also of a disc ter member 30 for not unduly overlaying the windows of the center member 30.

The top member 100 has a pivot point at its center disposed above the pivotpoint of the lower and center members and a securing member 94 is provided and extends through apertures in the centers of the discs 12, 30 and 100, whereby these discs are secured together at their pivot points for independent rotation.

The top member 100 further has a window 102 therethrough for exposing and indicating only one of the days 90 of the cycle printed on the center disc 3%.

The top member 100 also has an indicia 120 thereon preferably in the form of an arrow pointing outwardly to the circumference of the top member 100.

The arrow 120 is disposable opposite the columns 16 of day numbers for indicating a desired one of the columns of day numbers on the lower member 12, the arrow 12% indicating the first day of the flow. The words First Date of Flow are preferably printed on the top disc 1%.

It is also desirable that the top disc 100 be provided with the words Number of Days in Cycle adjacent the window 102.

The center disc 30 is preferably provided with the words Date Next Menstrual Period Will Begin printed opposite the window 44, and between the window 44 and the circumference of the center member 30. For this reason the window 44 is preferably substantially in the shape of sector of a circle with the outermost edge of the window 44 being of an arc-shape concentric with the pivot point 32 and being spaced from the outer circumference of the disc member 34 permitting the printing of the words 150 thereon.

An indicating arrow 152 18 provided in conjunction with the wording 150 and is preferably disposed upon the center member 30 with its point disposed adjacent the edge of the larger first window 44, and a line 154 is provided leading to the first word of the words 150 for indicating the large first window 44.

On the opposite side of the center disc 30 and between the second and third windows 50 and 60 words are printed at 170 as follows: Fertile Period Lies Between These Dates.

Two arrows, 172 and 174, are placed on the center disc 30 and on the outer edges of the windows 50 and 60 respectively with the points of the arrows pointing inwardly toward the center 32 for indicating the columns 16 of figures disposed in the respective windows 50 and 60.

Lines 176 and 178 are provided leading from the words 170 to the arrows 172 and 174 to indicate the meaning of the arrows.

The discs are preferably provided with letters to further assist in following the operating instructions and the top disc 100 bears the letter A, the center disc 30 the letter B, and the bottom disc 12, the letter C.

In operation, the following steps are used:

1. Set the window 102 of the top disc A over the days in the known cycle.

2. Hold the bottom disc C still, and turn the center disc B, letting the top disc A move with the center disc B until the flow arrow 120 on the top disc A points to that one of the columns 16 containing the number of the first date of flow of menstrual fluid, the correct date number for the first date of flow being found only in that column 16 which is directly opposite the correct months, the months 38 being found at the sides of the largest window 44 of the three windows in the center disc 30.

3. Find in the two small second and third windows 50 and 60 the dates which start and end the fertility period. Read carefully opposite only the correct month.

4. If your cycle changes in length, then first find a fertile period by using your shortest cycle in step 1. Then compute again using your longest cycle. Both of the resulting fertile periods are to be considered parts of your total period of possibility of fertility.

it will be seen that this invention fulfilling the above de- As thus described, has provided a fertility indicator scribed objects of the invention.

We claim:

1. A fertility period indicator comprising: a low member having a pivot point, approximately adjacent an areacenter of said lower member, said lower member having the day numbers of the days of a year on an upper side thereof and arranged in radially extending columns and also arranged in rows concentric with and extending various distances outwardly from said pivot point, a center member disposed above said lower member and having a first window therethrough disposed above and for exposing certain ones of said day numbers on said lower member, said center member having a pivot-point above the pivot point of said lower member, said center member having month markings thereon adjacent said first window and respectively arranged in positions opposite corresponding ones of said concentric rows, said center member having a second window therethrough and of a shape for exposing one of said columns, said second window being adjacent said month markings for the reading of day numbers in said second window opposite said month markings, said second window being in a position for indicating the first date of a period in which the days of actual fertility lie, said center member having a third window therethrough of a shape for exposing another of said columns different from that column exposed by said second window, and said center member having month markings thereon adjacent said third window and respectively arranged in positions opposite corresponding ones of said concentric rows, said third window being in a position for indicating the last date of said period, said center member having a circular row of day numbers thereon for indicating cycle days and arranged concentric with said pivot-point, and a top member disposed above and having a smaller size than said center member for not unduly overlaying said windows, said top member having a pivot-point above the pivot-points of said lower and center members, said top member having a window therethrough for exposing and indicating one of the days in said circular row of cycle days, said top member also having an indicia thereon adjacent an edge thereof and disposable opposite said columns and for indicating one of said columns of day numbers on said lower member, and means for pivotally securing said members together at their pivot points for independent rotation.

2. A fertility period indicator comprising: a lower member having a pivot point, approximately adjacent an area-center of said lower member, said lower member having the day numbers of the days of a year on an upper side thereof and arranged in radially extending columns and also arranged in rows concentric with and extending various distances outwardly from said pivot point, a center member disposed above said lower member and having a first window therethrough disposed above and for exposing certain ones of said day numbers on said lower member, said center member having a pivot-point above the pivot point of said lower member, said center member having month markings thereon adjacent said first window and respectively arranged in positions opposite corresponding ones of said concentric rows, said center member having a second window therethrough and of a shape for exposing one of said columns, said second window being adjacent said month markings for the reading of day numbers in said second window opposite said month markings, said second window being in a position for indicating the first date of a period in which the days of actual fertility lie, said center member having a third window therethrough of a shape for exposing another of said columns difierent from that column exposed by said second window, and said center member having month markings thereon adjacent said third window and respectively arranged in positions opposite corresponding ones of said concentric rows, said third window being in a position for indicating the last date of said period, said center member having a circular row of day numbers thereon for indicating cycle days and arranged concentric with said pivot-point, and a top member disposed above and having a smaller size than said center member for not unduly overlaying said windows, said top member having a pivot-point above the pivot-points of said lower and center members, said top member having means thereon for indicating one of the days in said circular row of cycle days, said top member also having an indicia thereon adjacent an edge thereof and disposable opposite said columns and for indicating one of said columns of day numbers on said lower member, and means for pivotally securing said members together at their pivot points for independent rotation.

3. A fertility period indicator comprising: a lower member having a pivot point, approximately adjacent an area-center of said lower member, said lower member having the day numbers of the days of a year on an upper side thereof and arranged in radially extending columns and also arranged in rows concentric with and extending various distances outwardly from said pivot point, a center member disposed above said lower member and having a first window therethrough disposed above and for exposing certain Ones of said clay numbers on said lower member, said center member having a pivot-point above the pivot point of said lower member, said center member having month markings thereon adjacent said first window and respectively arranged in positions opposite corresponding ones of said concentric rows, said center member having a second window therethrough and of a shape for exposing one of said columns,

said second window being adjacent said month markings for the reading of day numbers in said second window opposite said month markings, said second window being in a position for indicating the first date of a period in which the days of actual fertility lie, said center member having a third window therethrough of a shape for exposing another of said columns difierent from that column exposed by said second window, and said center member having month markings thereon adjacent said third window and respectively arranged in positions opposite corresponding ones of said concentric rows, said third window being in a position for indicating the last date of said period, said center member having a circular row of day numbers thereon for indicating cycle days and arranged concentric with said pivot-point, and a top member disposed above and having a smaller size than said center member for not unduly overlaying said windows, said top member having a pivot-point above the pivot-points of said lower and center members, said top member having a window therethrough for exposing and indicating one of the days in said circular row of cycle days, said top member also having means thereon adjacent an edge thereof and disposable opposite said columns and for indicating one of said columns of day numbers on said lower member, and means for pivotally securing said members together at their pivot points for independent rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

